CityBridge Community Church
- Denomination: Nondenominational
- Location: Plano, TX
- Website: https://www.citybridgechurch.org/
- Hiring for: Lead Pastor
The need
When CityBridge Church’s trusted leader of 25 years stepped into a new role, the transition required care, clarity, and vision. Their longtime lead pastor, Kyle Kaigler, had helped shape the church’s culture, values, and direction. He was stepping into a new role at CityBridge as Director of Engagement, which aligned seamlessly with his skillset. While his continued presence as an elder would be a steadying force throughout upcoming change, CityBridge faced the critical task of finding someone capable of stepping into a role that would continue to shape the church’s ministry.
There isn’t a ministry at CityBridge that goes untouched by the impact of a lead pastor. As a primary teacher, elder, and staff leader, this person would carry the weighty responsibility of discipling the body toward CityBridge’s mission. With a strong foundation in place, CityBridge needed a leader who could continue to build the church up by exemplifying spiritual maturity, biblical faithfulness, and humble servitude. Getting this decision right was essential to the church’s continued health.
About CityBridge Community Church
Since the beginning, CityBridge has had a ripple effect of healing and faithfulness in Dallas. Their roots informally began in 1998 with a small group of friends meeting prayerfully with high hopes. This group grew quickly and began to notice the effect their gathering was having on Dallas County. Encouraged to spread the work God was doing, they planted a Plano campus of Watermark.
That was six years ago. Six years of thriving, sustainable, growing ministry. Six years that led to Watermark Plano launching as CityBridge Community Church, an independent church. They now step into a new chapter as a church, devoted to the same mission they’ve always had on their hearts: Calling all people to full devotion to Jesus Christ, and striving to create a safe place with a high call.
The ideal candidate
CityBridge was looking for someone who’d fit right into their team as a discipler and shepherd. They needed someone authentic, humble, and people-oriented. The ideal candidate would be visionary and creative, with a sense of humor, and a passion for CityBridge’s Care & Recovery ministry. Finding someone with all of these components would mean finding a DNA match for CityBridge. In addition to these qualities, they hoped to find someone with the following qualifications:
- More than 10 years of pastoral experience
- Master’s of Divinity required
- Management experience
- Deep understanding of and commitment to the Bible and exegetical teaching
- Resonates with the mission and vision and CityBridge
Strategy and timing
As they began one of the most critical searches in their church’s history, CityBridge Church chose to partner with Vanderbloemen. This choice would free their team to focus on their individual roles, not the search, and would open their search to a broader network of qualified candidates and expert insight throughout the process. Vanderbloemen’s consultant team traveled to Plano to meet CityBridge leadership in person and witness the church’s culture—one built on authenticity, biblical truth, discipleship, and engagement.
Vanderbloemen’s recruiters and consultants opened the search and sifted through applications. Before long, they had identified a strong slate of qualified candidates. Before presenting the top candidates to CityBridge, Vanderbloemen’s team vetted each for authenticity and alignment with the church’s mission and vision. That process led CityBridge to meet the candidate that they had hoped for.
About Brad Kirby
Within the first and only presentation of candidates was a Louisiana pastor named Brad Kirby. Vanderbloemen has a long history with this star candidate, as they connected Brad to a senior pastor role in Virginia years ago. After five years of serving in that role, he was called home to look after family.
Brad has 26 years of ministry experience, far exceeding CityBridge’s hopes for an experienced pastor. Brad holds a Master’s of Divinity and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry in Expository Teaching.
“My prayer is to see a generation of Christ-followers who are known for their biblical literacy, doctrinal integrity, and undeniable passion for Jesus Christ,” Brad says.
He also had extensive management and budget oversight experience, making him more than capable for all responsibilities that come with the lead pastor role at City Bridge. Having served in Florida and Texas as well, Brad had always felt like his personal ministry DNA aligns with Watermark and loved what he saw about City Bridge from the start. It was clear from the start that Brad had the passion for discipleship that CityBridge needed in a lead pastor.
Now, Brad leads his wife and two teenage children to Plano, ready to build on the church’s strong foundation built before him and lead the church with faithfulness into its next season.
